CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 1:07
Buckley’s viral spinning back-kick KO and how it actually happened
Joe opens by crediting Joaquin Buckley with one of the most viral knockouts in MMA history: the jump spinning back kick while the opponent held his leg. Buckley explains it was the first time he’d ever done it in a fight and sets up the backstory for how he developed that technique.
- 1:07 – 3:10
Self-taught striking: learning kicks from YouTube, Rogan/GSP clips, and Raymond Daniels
Buckley describes building his striking vocabulary by studying multiple martial arts styles online. He credits watching Joe Rogan’s instructional content with GSP and then leveling up by copying Raymond Daniels’ “two-touch” style mechanics on the heavy bag.
- 3:10 – 6:34
Old-school kicking legends: Michael Jai White, Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace, and front-leg mastery
Rogan and Buckley geek out over elite kicking instruction and classic kickboxing/karate icons. They break down why Superfoot Wallace’s one-leg emphasis produced extraordinary dexterity and discuss how styles evolve when facing leg kicks.
- 6:34 – 9:40
Movies as martial arts ‘male role models’ and Buckley’s late start in formal training
Buckley explains that martial arts movies weren’t just entertainment—they were his entry point and a substitute for male mentorship growing up. He details how he finally began real coaching at 18 and why wrestling became his first accessible foundation.
- 9:40 – 11:00
Early amateur MMA in Missouri: rule sets, matchmaking, and gym development problems
Buckley describes how quickly he fought after starting training—within about 9–10 months—and what amateur MMA looked like in St. Louis at the time. He and Rogan discuss inconsistent development pathways and how many gyms still struggle with building fighters correctly.
- 11:00 – 14:12
Small gym vs mega gym: structure, safety, and individualized coaching
Rogan and Buckley compare the benefits of large ‘factory’ gyms to smaller, tightly coached teams. Buckley argues repetition and discipline on fundamentals plus personalized attention can outperform the chaos of unsupervised hard sparring at big gyms.
- 14:12 – 17:35
Buckley’s team setup: wrestling academy roots, conditioning, and practical jiu-jitsu coaching
Buckley outlines how his training is distributed across specialists: MMA leadership, high-level wrestling instruction, conditioning, and jiu-jitsu. He argues passion and daily study can make an effective coach even without a black belt, especially when the system is consistent and fight-relevant.
- 17:35 – 20:02
From highlight hunting to championship mindset: winning vs entertaining (and the Izzy debate begins)
Buckley explains he initially prioritized exciting striking to earn bonuses and attention, even when grappling would have improved his odds. That evolves into a broader discussion of ‘boring’ fighting, mastery, and how champions like Adesanya win strategically.
- 20:02 – 35:22
Dropping to 170: weight realities, size disadvantages at 185, and how to beat elite champs
Buckley confirms he’s moving to welterweight after one more fight at 185 and explains why he’s naturally better suited there. The conversation expands into how to pressure Adesanya, the risks of engaging a counter-striker, and why ‘you must take the belt’ from champions.
- 35:22 – 40:17
Weight-cut chaos & matchmaking: Khamzat/Diaz shake-up, catchweights, and who gets screwed
Rogan and Buckley revisit the UFC 279 reshuffle and why it looked like a conspiracy even if it wasn’t. They break down the logic behind catchweights, late changes, and why certain fighters (like Li Jingliang) can end up disadvantaged by the chaos.
- 40:17 – 51:40
Welterweight killers and division identity: Shavkat, Geoff Neal, and the ‘missing personalities’
The conversation pivots to the depth of 170: under-the-radar talent and stylistic threats. Buckley argues the division lacks self-promotion despite elite skill, then they discuss matchups, momentum, and why some fighters become ‘real champions’ after leveling up mentally.
- 51:40 – 1:04:30
Injuries, brutal combat sports, and ‘real fights’: surgeries, bare-knuckle, street fighting, and security work
Buckley details major UFC-era injuries and surgeries, including orbital reconstruction, and compares that controlled danger to the uncontrolled violence of street fights. They react to underground concrete fights, debate glove padding, and Buckley shares lessons from years working security about awareness and de-escalation.
- 1:04:30 – 2:27:57
Career planning: Chris Curtis fight, fast-tracked title shots (Pereira), boxing ambitions, and the ‘master plan’
Buckley lays out short- and long-term plans: beat Chris Curtis, move to 170, target meaningful names, and potentially transition into boxing with a realistic development timeline. They analyze Adesanya vs Pereira dynamics (size, five rounds, weight cut) and close on how one big moment can catapult a career.
